Surveys of Australian feedstuffs for toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and for aflaxtoxin.

Because of the high prevalence of toxigenic A. flavus in commercial feed sources it is suggested that there is a danger of aflatoxin contamination if conditions are conducive to fungal growth. Under climatic conditions such as those experienced in the unusually wet summer of 1973-74 in many parts of Australia or where storage conditions are unsuitable, growth of A. flavus and elaboration of aflatoxin can be expected on a range of feed commodities from a wide geographical distribution. The results demonstrate the actual and potential danger of aflatoxin contamination in Australia feedstuffs. From these feed samples fungal species predominantly from the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were also isolated, some of which are known to produce mycotoxins other than aflatoxin. The possibility of contamination of feeds by other mycotoxins cannot therefore be excluded.